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What's In My Hand Luggage?

26/6/2016

Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post about the June Glossybox? (Here)
On Friday I flew out to Spain with my family so I thought you'd like to see what I crammed into my hand luggage!
As we were travelling as a family, my dad had all of our important documents and passports so I didn't have to worry about that!

Just as an FYI, as I'm on holiday, I'm writing this blog post and next week's post on my phone, so if the layout is a bit different or the photos are huge, that's because I can't change too much! I'll fix them when I'm home.

What's in my hand luggage? | abibailey.co.uk

I bought a new bag for holiday from boohoo. I had my eye on a gorgeous gold one from ASOS but it was constantly out of stock, so I settled for this one instead. The next day the gold one was back in stock! I do like this one though as it looks very nautical, and it comes with a little matching zippy purse too.

This is what I had in my hand luggage (not all pictured as some where thrown in last minute):

- Electricals:
iPhone, iPad, camera, earbuds

- Necessaties:
tissues, hand sanitiser, a pen

- Beauty:
compact mirror, pressed powder, travel powder brush, lippie, nail glue, hair brush, sunglasses

- Edibles:
chewing gum, jelly beans, fruit crumbles

Once we'd got through security and everything I bought more travel snacks and a bottle of water too.

What do you take on the plane with you? Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next Sunday with a 'Summer Skincare Essentials' post.

Abi xxx

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What's In My Glossybox? | June 2016

19/6/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post? It was my Gerard Cosmetics Haul (here).
Today I'll be showing you what goodies I received in my Glossybox for June.
As the products are very holiday orientated I am saving them for my holiday next week, so I won't be reviewing them as such, more telling you about them. If I think something is particularly great, I'll be sure to keep you all informed!

Ladival Sun Protection Spray SPF 15

This is the first product I am saving for my holiday; Suncream! As it has been either incredibly overcast, storming or chucking it down with rain in the UK lately, I've not had a chance to use this yet. It says on the box that it is an 'advanced infrared-A protection system' and that it protects against 4x more of the sun's UV rays, gives immediate protection, is suitable for sensitive skin and is water resistant! Super handy for 10 days in Spain.
Obviously as with all suncreams, you will still need to keep applying this throughout the day, especially after being in the water, despite how water resistant this proves to be. Looking forward to using this on holiday!
Full size is £19.99

De Bruyère Aftersun Lotion Monoï

I am also saving this for my holiday, but I can tell you that is smells deliciously coconutty, is very cooling and soothing and doesn't feel sticky. I smoothed some over the back of my hand and a little goes a long way! It's also the perfect size to throw in your bag on the go.
My Glossybox card tells me that this can also be used to help prolong a tan! It also says that this aftersun milk is enriched with Monoï (gardenia petals soaked in coconut oil) as well as vitamin E and that it will hydrate, nourish and calm the skin. It's also free from paraben and silicone.
Not bad for less than a tenner!

Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer

I have used this a few times and it is really lovely. It smells citrusy and really does wake up the skin. Work has run me ragged recently so when I woke up this morning I really did look tired and my skin looked tired too. I popped some of this energy boosting moisturiser on and noticed a difference in minutes! My complexion looked more even, hydrated and plumped up.
It says that it combines skin-boosting ingredients like coffee beans and panax ginseng (a plant) so that lack-lustre skin will be a thing of the past.
It's a nice moisturiser and it does what it says but I'm not sure I'd pay £24 for it as I still love my Garnier matte+ moisturiser!

Emité Make Up Lip & Cheek Tint

This is another item I haven't really tried out other than on the back of my hand, but the formula is lovely, it blends out nicely and gives a subtle boost of colour. Brilliant for that sun kissed look on the cheeks or to add a wash of colour across the lips in a 'my lips but better' kinda way.
£12.50 for the full size and it's a decent sized tube so it's going to last you ages as a little goes a long way. It also has a doe foot applicator which we all know I love.

Spa To You Konjac Sponge

This is a very intriguing product and I was not expecting it to be wet when I opened it, haha!
My Glossybox card tells me that a Konjac Sponge is the latest cleansing trend from Japan and Korea. The sponges are made of natural fibres from the Konjac (a porous root vegetable from Asia) and is known for its ability to hold water. It's also more gentle than a scrub but has skin-buffing capabilities.
Looking forward to using this to prep my skin for the sun. If you're a skincare fan, at only £6.99 it'd be worth giving it a go, even just for the novelty.

Aussie Hair Care 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner

As a bonus product this month (thank you Glossybox!) I received this Aussie hair mask to restore manageability and shine. It's for damaged hair, and let's be honest, now that I'm straightening my hair more, my hair is crying out for some deep conditioning! I don't know whether to use this before I go away to try and restore my hair a bit, or when I come back to rescue my hair from the sun.
At only £1.09 they are definitely worth trying!

That's it for this month's Glossybox.
Lots of lovely products for the summer!
See last month's box (here)

Leave me a comment about what your favourite product is.

Thanks for reading, pop back next Sunday for my 'What's In My Hand Luggage?' post.

Abi xxx

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Gerard Cosmetics Haul

12/6/2016

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Hello everyone!
Happy Sunday!
Did you see last week's post about my Updated Skincare Routine (here)?
I've bought a couple of bits and pieces from Gerard Cosmetics recently so I thought you'd like to see them.

Packaging

Let's just take a moment to acknowledge how pretty the packaging is! I love the black and gold with the dainty dots. The gold is so shiny on the actual items and looks so glamorous. I really like the font too. The little added cover on the highlighter is such a great touch; it keeps it protected and is something I've not seen before.

Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks

Gerard Cosmetics Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Mercury Rising | abibailey.co.uk

I already have Immortal (a deep red) and loved it so I thought it was necessary to pick up Mercury Rising (orange) and Ballet Slipper (soft pink). Immortal is crazy pigmented so I was hoping these two would be as well, but unfortunately they just don't have the same intensity. Ballet Slipper is very sheer and would take quite a few coats to get an opaque coverage. Mercury Rising is a bit better but the application is quite streaky. Maybe I just got a couple of dud ones!
Obviously they are a matte formula but they are really comfortable to wear, they don't feel too drying like other matte lip products. They doe-foot applicator is very precise but you do have to be accurate because if you keep layering it, I found Immortal to go a bit patchy.
Swatches are below with the lip pencil :).

Lip Pencil

Gerard Cosmetics Lip Pencil and Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick Swatches | abibailey.co.uk

Top to bottom: Lip pencil in Immortal / Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks in Immortal / Mercury Rising / Ballet Slipper
The lip pencil is creamy and glides on nicely and like the liquid lipstick, is also very pigmented and long lasting. This is also called Immortal and I bought it to go with the Hydra Matte Liquid Lipstick. It's more of a cherry red but it matches the liquid lipstick really well and helps with a neat application! It isn't a twist up liner so when it starts to get blunt, you'd need to sharpen it. That doesn't bother me but I know it does some people.

Star Powder

Gerard Cosmetics Star Powder in Marilyn Swatch | abibailey.co.uk

This is the Star Powder in the shade Marilyn and it is the most beautiful gold highlighter ever. EVER.
I am in love and have been using it everyday. It really adds a glow. It's so smooth and so beautifully pigmented. It lasts all day too; even after about 15 hours wear, my cheek bones are still glowing.
It's a definite summer staple and would look amazing with a tan. Definitely my most favourite thing I've bought for a while.

Have you ever bought anything from Gerard Cosmetics?
What are your thoughts on any of these products?
Leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll be back next Sunday with this month's Glossybox!

Abi xxx

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Updated Skincare Routine

5/6/2016

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Hello Everyone!
Happy Sunday!
I hope you enjoyed last week's post about the Fortune Favours The Brave palette (here).
Today I'll be showing you my updated skincare routine as its been ages (i.e. nearly two years) since I last talked about it (here).

I'm a bit lazy when it comes to exfoliating, but I always without fail, remove my make up and make sure to moisturise.

Here's the run-down of products I use to keep my skin at it's best:

- Garnier Cleansing Wipes for Normal to Combination Skin
- Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water for Combination & Sensitive Skin
- Superdrug Oval Face Pads
- Garnier SkinActive Pure Active 3-1 Scrub
- Primark Face Scrubber
- Garnier Moisture + Matte Moisturiser for Combination to Oily Skin
- The Body Shop Oils Of Life Intensely Revitalising Facial Oil

Removing Make Up

To remove my make up I always use the Garnier Cleansing Wipes soaked in the Micellar Water to remove my eye make up. I know make up wipes are naughty but it hurts my eyes too much to use a cotton pad soaked in Micellar Water. Once I've used the wipe to remove my eye make up, eyebrows and any remaining lipstick, I use a couple of cotton pads to remove my face make up and make sure there are no traces of foundation or blush still on my skin.

Cleansing

Updated Skincare Routine | Garnier SkinActive Scrub | abibailey.co.uk

I try to cleanse/exfoliate my skin once a week to remove any remaining make up or oils that could clog my pores. I should probably do it more often but like I said, I'm lazy and find it a chore. I tend to do this in the morning to leave my skin refreshed for the day.
I like this particular scrub as you can use it as a wash, a scrub or a mask.
I like to wash my face with water, apply the mask and let it set and then use my scrubber to exfoliate it off. It leaves my skin feeling super soft and refreshed.

Moisturising

Updated Skincare Routine | Garnier Moisture + Matte moisturiser and The Body Shop Oils of Life Facial Oil | abibailey.co.uk

If you remember in my April Glossybox post (here) I talked about The Body Shop Oils of Life and I am STILL loving it! Absolutely obsessed, it has completely turned my skin around. My complexion is much smoother, it has faded my spot scars and leaves my skin so hydrated.
In April I wasn't sure if I'd buy the full size as it's £28 but I will definitely be picking it up once my tester has run out (it's on its last legs). I was never much of a skincare person but this little miracle oil has totally changed my mind!
Before I go to sleep, I drop a few drops on my cheeks, nose, chin and forehead and gently pat it in to make sure it definitely absorbs into the skin. I then apply the Moisture + Matte moisturiser all over the face to help seal in the oil and add maximum hydration.
I always make sure to moisturise (minus the oil) before I do my make up too, to create a smooth base for my make up.

How do you take care of your skin and what are your holy grail products?
I'd love to know, so please leave me a comment!

Thanks for reading and I'll speak to you next Sunday.

Abi xxx

P.S. You can follow me on Twitter | Instagram | Bloglovin'

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What's In My Hand Luggage?

What's In My Glossybox? | June 2016

Ladival Sun Protection Spray SPF 15

De Bruyère Aftersun Lotion Monoï

Origins GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturizer

Emité Make Up Lip & Cheek Tint

Spa To You Konjac Sponge

Aussie Hair Care 3 Minute Miracle Reconstructor Deep Conditioner

Gerard Cosmetics Haul

Packaging

Hydra Matte Liquid Lipsticks

Lip Pencil

Star Powder

Updated Skincare Routine

Removing Make Up

Cleansing

Moisturising

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